Guest Post & Giveaway: The Twelfth Night Wager by Regan Walker

Today on the blog I have the perfect post and giveaway to get you in the holiday mood! I am so pleased to be hosting historical romance author Regan Walker's guest post on some Regency-Era Christmas desserts, and I also have a giveaway for an eBook of her latest novel The Twelfth Night Wager and the short story that follows it, The Holly and the Thistle!

What’s for Dessert? by Regan Walker

In Regency England, in the early 19th century, which is the setting for my Christmas novella, The Twelfth Night Wager (and the short story that follows it, The Holly & The Thistle), they indulged in many wonderful desserts at Christmas, such as marchpane (marzipan), mincemeat pie, fruit tarts, gingerbread and of course, plum pudding.

Plum pudding is the traditional accompaniment to a Regency holiday feast. But the making of it can be a chore. Should you want to try, here is the recipe:

Prepare all ingredients, well whip the eggs, add to milk, and thoroughly mix. Let stand for 12 hours in a cool place, add brandy and put into well-greased basins and boil 8 hours or longer. Sufficient for twenty to twenty-eight people.

I know. I know. Who would go to all that trouble? Not me. So, if you’d prefer something equally seasonal, but a lot less fuss and effort—and the Christmas dessert my son prefers above all others—I suggest my recipe for Persimmon Pudding. It’s moist and tasty and with whipped cream, not to be missed:

Christmas Persimmon Pudding

Use only Hachiya persimmons (pictured) and make sure they are soft and ripe!

About The Twelfth Night Wager

It was a dull day at White’s, the day he agreed to the wager: seduce bed and walk away from the lovely Lady Leisterfield, all by Twelfth Night. This holiday season, Christopher St. Ives, Viscount Eustace, planned to give himself a gift.

THE INNOCENT WIDOW

She was too proper by half—or so was the accusation of her friends, which was why her father had to find her a husband. But Lord Leisterfield was now gone a year, and Grace was at last shedding the drab colors of mourning. The house felt empty, more so during the coming Christmastide, and so tonight her coming out would begin with a scandalous piece of theater. The play would attract rogues, or so promised her friend the dowager countess. It would indeed. The night would bring about the greatest danger—and the greatest happiness—that Grace had ever known.

Visit The Twelfth Night Wager Pinterest Board

Buy the eBook

About The Holly and The Thistle

A chance meeting at Berry’s wine shop, a misunderstanding and Christmastide all come together to allow the most handsome Scot in London to give Lady Emily Picton the best Christmas gift ever: a marriage not of convenience, but of love.

About the Author

Bestselling author Regan Walker loved to write stories as a child, particularly those about adventure-loving girls, but by the time she got to college more serious pursuits took priority. One of her professors encouraged her to pursue the profession of law, which she did. Years of serving clients in private practice and several stints in high levels of government gave her a love of international travel and a feel for the demands of the “Crown” on its subjects. Hence her romance novels often involve a demanding sovereign who taps his subjects for “special assignments.” And in each of her novels, there is always real history and real historic figures. Regan lives in San Diego with her golden retriever, Link, whom she says inspires her every day to relax and smell the roses.

Giveaway

To enter to win an eBook of The Twelfth Night Wager and an eBook of the short story that follows it, The Holly and the Thistle, please complete the Rafflecopter giveaway form below.

Rules

- Giveaway ends at 11:59pm on December 17th. You must be 18 or older to enter.
- Giveaway is open to US residents only.
- Only one entry per household.
- All giveaway entrants agree to be honest and not cheat the systems; any suspect of fraud is decided upon by blog/site owner and the sponsor, and entrants may be disqualified at our discretion
- Winner have 48 hours to claim prize or new winner is chosen.

My Gramma always made the best Mincemeat Pie, unfortunately I don't have her recipe. She had a Persimmon Tree on her property, so we always had Persimmon Pudding, and Persimmon Bread. Some of the memories, and things I miss so much about her.

Just visited your Pinterest Board on the Twelfth Night Wager, Regan! I love the photo of Christopher St. Ives, Lord Eustace. He has quite the smirk on his face too. Perfect! Again, I loved both this book AND The Holly and the Thistle. Thanks for the post, Amy! jdh2690@gmail.com

I'm so glad you liked the pic of Christopher, Janice. When I saw it, I thought it was perfect. Hair could be a bit redder, perhaps but the smirk is just like Lord Eustace's. Thanks so much for taking a look at the pics!

I have always wanted to try a real Christmas Plum Pudding. I am the only person in my family that likes fruitcake and I made one many years ago that was so good. Wishing I could find a small one just for myself. The picture makes me drool.

I haven't read either of these books but certainly do look forward to doing so. Thanks for the fun giveaway AND the beautiful picture of the Pudding!

So glad you came by, Connie. You might be one of the few who actually tries the traditional plum pudding recipe. I hope you enjoy The Twelfth Night Wager and The Holly & The Thistle...and let me know when you do! I love to hear from readers (you can email me via my website).

Hi, Nancy. I'd not try the traditional English plum pudding myself but I can assure you the persimmon pudding is delicious. And I hope you do try my Christmas stories!...or one of my novels. Racing with the Wind is on sale till Christmas for 99¢.

Hi, Holly! I just made the persimmon pudding yesterday, but this time in small red ramekins and it was a bit hit. I do hope you like my Christmas stories! Let me know when you've read them. You can always email me via my website: www.reganwalkerauthor.com.